63
BUT THEY REMEMBER NOT.
His mother wrought as only mothers can,
And gave the impress to the coming man,
Put all her earlier aims and hopes aside,
Focussed in him her whole desire and pride,
Nor spared herself, but toiling early, late,
Hewed through their poverty a pathway straight
For his young footsteps—gave him all she had,
And sent him forth an honest, whole-souled lad.
His wife, the guardian of his later ways,
The star and inspiration of his days,
Relieved him of those trivial, tyrant cares
That lurk about our feet like hidden snares,
And set him free for higher thought and deed;
Making her heart a home to meet his need
As only women can, she gave surcease
Of grinding stress and fenced him in with peace.
